Images and engine details have surfaced that take the new SL 63 AMG to its own heights. AMG has not been too shy to exploit the potential of the 6.2-litre V8, going as much as 450kW/ 603 bhp in some models (limited only by the inability of engineers to cool down the unit effectively). But we know there’s more potential here. For now though the SL 63 is the new one to watch.
Several changes have been made to differentiate the car from its predecessor, something crucial in dealing with “facelifts” as it were. A new AMG spoiler lip has been inserted, giving the car an edgy feel to it. Darkened bi-xenon headlights exude style and power, while the radiator grille is painted gloss black. We don’t have the entire catalogue of pictures yet, but in white it should contrast brilliantly with this grille.
The SL 63 AMG unit wears 19-inch alloy wheels, which, with all due respect, are more common to VW GTI types nowadays. A larger wheel may have been called for at this level of car. At the rear tail lights are darker too, with AMG-encrypted, chromed twin-oval pipes displaying what the car is capable of, in a straight line at least. Most of us will be used to this end of it anyway. Oh, the bonnet/ hood is new too; sharp, kinky, very C-Class like.
Inside the AMG sports seats are standard in nappa leather upholstery. Things like AMG sports steering, AMG instrument cluster and carbon-fiber trim complete the interior picture.
Now that I’ve bored you to drooling stage, can we talk about the real reason you are reading this? Yes, there is a 6.2-litre V8 underneath there. It is not accompanied by force-feeding, but does produce a healthy dose of some 386kW/ 525 bhp. And guess what? The ESP can be switched off in three stages. Time to hold on tight then! The new MCT 7-speed sports transmission is in effect, and should change much quicker than the standard 7-speed G-Tronic. Yet another double-clutch system? Sure looks it. High-performance brakes and a new AMG sports suspension come with the package, as well as a speed-sensitive steering wheel system.
Mercedes SL 63 AMG - First Detail and Images
AMG / New styling, New Engine, Same Drift
By Thami Masemola
February 4, 2008 12:35 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz
Comments
SDman
February 4, 2008 12:51 PM
its a pretty good effort for a facelift.. still think they should've facelifted the rear look as well.. ala new S and C.. more edgier look.. that will make the SL look completely new
afterace2
February 4, 2008 12:56 PM
i like the F1 style bumpers (like in the new SLK) but I agree about the rear - it should have been changed more extensively
catch22
February 4, 2008 1:30 PM
What's next?
SL70AMG? 750 BHP but 2500 kg!
The manufacturers should really differentiate between ridiculuous and reasonable somehow. Otherwise the power-game and useless cars will dominate the car-scene more and more.
We should be displaying the demand for more fuel-efficient, light, eco-friendly but fun-to-drive cars. Sort of Lotus Elise with BMW/Audi/Merc levels of quality, why not?
Just my two cents...
BTW, I love these muscle cars, supercars but still think we don't need them...
benzboy
February 5, 2008 3:55 AM
In many ways I have to agree with you, Yet it is, what it is!!! No one needs or wants to spend upwards of 200K on a car, but I will and have placed a deposit down on 63 today. My bad, maybe, but I dont drink smoke, do drugs and rarely get laid so, ... this is not so bad for me.
Audi_fan
February 4, 2008 2:33 PM
i dunno why but the front end looks better than on the SL 350 and 500! i wouldn't buy it though cause it still looks bad! interior and back end look brilliant!
eddie
February 4, 2008 4:17 PM
with everyone still going up in horsepower how are they going to achieve increased CAFE standards?
3Iceman
February 4, 2008 5:16 PM
The car without competition. The best convertible ever! Can't wait to see how much BHP SL65 and the Brabus edition engines will be capable of producing. Well done Mercedes Benz!
3Iceman
February 4, 2008 5:20 PM
Watch and cry! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rM_zrj_puE&feature=related
NitrousOxide
February 4, 2008 6:34 PM
They are increasing the power by everyday because new requirments are involved every day too.. Every day they invent something new, which mainly cause to weight increase.. And for what "catch22" said: the word "quality" cannot be present unless another word called "weight" has to appear..
catch22
February 5, 2008 9:22 AM
You can cover the whole dashboard/cockpit in leather and this does not add weight any more than ABS or other polypropylen etc based materials. At max you would have to endure 5-10 more kg's. The result will be an astonishing interior just like an Aston for example. So quality and weight don't have go hand in hand. Using carbonfibre surfaces or alcantara seats won't hurt either.
If aftermarket companies around my town can dress up the interior (doors + seats) in pure alcantara for less than 1000 ?'s, than mass production german premium brands should and can do better in terms of quality/Weight/price... Anyway that was not our topic of discussion. SL 63 is an engineering marvel nobody needs. May be a Black Edition of this SL just in the mould of the CLK and SLK would justify its reason of existence for me. And for that kind of money, I would definitely go for a 599 GTB Fiorano :)
Zero
February 4, 2008 7:55 PM
Power was ever really a problem with any of the AMG models, but it was the way it was delivered. Most of the AMG cars, except perhaps for the CLS and E class, can't seem to get their power down when on a track. Just from watching some of the C63 AMG, you can see its sliding alot. I hope this SL is different.
ck314
February 4, 2008 10:13 PM
The C63 AMG is the only real sportscar bearing this awesome engine. Not only because of its lighter weight, but also due to its wicked exhaust note (muted on higher versions), harder suspension, and the possibility of getting a limited slip diff. In other words, the most exciting Mercedes available at the momenent.
NICKKOP
February 4, 2008 8:54 PM
maybe mercedes AMG cars just have a little too much "quality" if they weigh so much and need so much torque to move them, and then when you put this on a track it creates an almost uncontrollable sliding monster such as most m-b amg sportscars and the brabus S biturbo roadster, as shown above.. AMG should concentrate on a lot of weight reduction, which would allow just enough torque reduction to increase cornering abilities, especially at the limit but they should maintain the high horsepower levels or maybe even allow slight increases of them.. some automakers already master this in their production cars or racing programs, such as Ferrari, Lotus, BMW, Porsche, Honda, Nissan and in the past even mitsubishi... yes that is correct
NICKKOP
February 4, 2008 8:57 PM
NOx : No Offense, but i do not believe quality has to mean weight, especially not at many of these AMG model(s') price point(s)
Zero
February 4, 2008 8:57 PM
nickkop, your right about the torque issue. AMG engines are very much high torque, so getting the power down is hard. Weight is a major issue. Most of these AMG cars weigh more than 2 tonnes, which is too much for a sports car. BMW has tried very hard to reduce weight, and it shows, as their cars are better handling machines.
NICKKOP
February 4, 2008 8:58 PM
as far as styling goes i think this car is gorgeous, but agree as some have stated that the rear end could have been updated a bit more
bendyhui
February 4, 2008 8:59 PM
I love Mercedes, especially AMG, but do you guys think they copied the wheels from Porsche 911 turbo?
swifthead
February 4, 2008 11:52 PM
@ck314: you are wrong! the most sporty is CLK63 AMG Black Series and CLK-DTM-AMG! Also the C63 AMg is the first AMG sedan which could switch ESP tottally off!
ck314
February 5, 2008 12:18 AM
How am I wrong, I was talking about current production cars, not special limited series.
MB.65
February 5, 2008 9:00 PM
What's your point. The CLK Black Series is still a prouduction car. To quote you: "The C63 AMG is the only real sportscar bearing this awesome engine".
ck314
February 6, 2008 9:58 PM
Do you see the CLK BS on the price list? Probably not, because it's built on demand, and eventhough it's not a limited series such as the DTM, its days are counted since the new CLK is ready for production. And in any event it's not an everyday car such as the C63. It's like arguing an Unimog is still a more capable offroader than a G-series.
german-cars-lover
February 4, 2008 11:58 PM
No roadster in the whole world will be better than SL65 AMG . Just wait and see .
benzboy
February 5, 2008 4:07 AM
no roadster in the world better that the SL65? what about the Mercedes SLR Roadster?
NICKKOP
February 5, 2008 7:18 AM
and what about the Brabus S BiTurbo Roadster based on the SL600/SL65 ?
driv3r
February 5, 2008 12:11 AM
I agree with catch22. Most of us will just watching these cars passing by... Of course they are a proove what todays engineers can do, nice numbers: 603bhp - OMG. So what? Where you can try all posibilities of a car like this? I like cool cars, but i'd like better cool (and affordable) eco friendly cars...(i own 06' BMW 320d touring - 163bhp is more than enaugh for everydays driving in a city). And if MB, Audi, and BMW has enaugh potential and resources to do something like this, why they cant make something like Fisker Karma or Tesla Roadster? I believe they could do that much better. Or maybe the influence of world oil mafia is too big? ;)
ck314
February 5, 2008 12:45 AM
It is. For instance, a few years ago Honda was secretely threatened for designing a free energy vehicle (electrogavitational motion, like Hitler's saucers...), and in the US it's a federal crime to develop a technology which could threaten the oil cartel. Bush, Rockefeller, etc. But either way, the small number of ppl driving these supercars worldwide is absolutely irrelevant regarding pollution levels, let's be honest.
catch22
February 5, 2008 9:26 AM
Honda S2000 is also an engineering marvel. 120 PS from 2 litres (in some markets) and that level of performance is still not matched by any other manufacturer. It's light, agile ... neither torquey nor comfortable however it has a point and it proves it well after all those years...
just my two cents
Wagner669
February 5, 2008 2:25 AM
Great!! But why did they mess with the head lights??? Why did they have to put the CLS-Type head lights??? WHY????
benzboy
February 5, 2008 3:52 AM
I have placed my deposit on the SL 63 today and will have to wait till this summer to get it but I think its hot, no matter what anyonelse says.
benzboy
February 5, 2008 4:59 AM
TO CK 314 I like and agree with most of your posts, and you seem to very knowlegeable about cars. If you will or could this article says the wheels are going to be 19 inches. what I want to know do you think that the tires/rims will be staggered in size or 19's all around,as one of my pet peeves with my amg right now is that I have gone through 4 sets of michelins in 8 years and I drive about 6k a year and I am not hard on my car, yet because they are staggered I cant rotate the tires for longer wear. Your reply would be most appreciated thanks benzboy
ck314
February 5, 2008 4:28 PM
hah That's nice to know ;) Thx, I just happen to love MB, which also means you have to be harsh when they go wrong. Not the rims, but the tires are always wider in the back with 19", especially AMGs. The SL63 might be the best choice today along with the C63, which I have pre-ordered, all black with limited slip diff; the all chromed grill is luscious in person. Congrats anyway!
06AMGE55Redneck
February 5, 2008 6:34 AM
I have owned a few AMG models. I currently own a 2006 E 55 and a 2008 E 63! I wouldnt trade either for the world... AMG ROCKS!!!!
e36mmm
February 5, 2008 7:20 AM
it looks great inside and out however they have done wrong by thinking that 997 turbo drivers wont realise that merc is copying their wheels.
benzboy
February 6, 2008 3:48 AM
So to ck314 what your saying to me about the rims the wheels will be staggered and thus not rotatable.For the AMGSL63 and I can expect to pay a fortune in new rubber every year and half, even though I am a semi retired 48 year old who drives to the gym, the grocery store, and home and to the auto detailer once a week. so sad and yet I will still buy one LOL!!!!
ck314
February 6, 2008 9:50 PM
lol Every year and a half, then consider yourself lucky! With such ultra low profile and soft rubber compound I'm constrained to change rear track tires roughly every 10 months on my 997 Carrera S (sport suspension + lsd, rather hard driving and few occasional track laps). But you'll see it's worth it, the SL63 with top down sounds like some angry yacht waiting to be unlashed.
german-cars-lover
February 6, 2008 3:50 AM
Benzboy and nickkop , Iam talking about an original Mercedes , not about half-original like SLR or Brabus .
benzboy
February 6, 2008 4:24 AM
GCL I have to disagree with you in that the SLR is an original MB in my opinion.
NICKKOP
February 7, 2008 1:13 AM
ok then a porsche turbo convertible.. definitely better.. it handels corners, and it is faster because it has traction...
swifthead
February 6, 2008 5:07 PM
Haha and CLK-GTR-AMG is also original, not to mention the CLK-DTM-AMG!!! They are all original, even CLK63 AMG Black Series is original and faster in every aspect than this SL. Because it`s the same engine in but CLK is lighter, more racey suspension and sporty brakes. This SL63 is a luxury coupe GT but with a lot of potention, it`s the best in it`s class.
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